Day 1:
Depart for Dublin, the capitol of Ireland and it's largest city. Day 2:
Arrive in Dublin with time enough for some sightseeing and shopping in Ireland's capitol city. You will take an open-top bus tour with hop-on and off service this afternoon. Stops you may want to make while on the tour are the Guinness Storehouse, Phoenix Park, Old Jameson Distillery, Christ Church Cathedral, and St.Patrick's
Cathedral. This evening the group will gather for a welcoming pub dinner to kick off the tour! Overnight in Dublin.(D) Day 3:
This morning, a drive through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains brings you to Powerscourt House and Gardens. The house is now home to the best of Irish design in gifts, clothes, and furniture in the Avoca Stores and the Interiors Gallery, but the setting and the 47 acres of gardens is what draws visitors to this lovely estate. Lunch in Avoca
before your return to Dublin with some free time to explore, shop, and sample the many eateries to be found in Temple Bar. Overnight in Dublin.(B,L) Day 4:
Leave the big city behind today as the itinerary heads toward the west. Today's first stop is Locke's Distillery Museum, which houses the last remaining example of a small pot distillery in Ireland and was established in 1757. The distillery made pot still Irish Malt Whiskey for almost 200 years. This afternoon you'll visit Clonmacnoise Monastic Settlement, an early Christian site founded by Saint Ciaran in the 6th century on the banks of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, eight churches (10th-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and a large collection of early Christian grave slabs. Then it is on to Galway and Galway Bay. Enjoy a pub dinner and overnight in Galway.(B,D) Day 5:
This morning you'll visit Cong and Cong Abbey. The most fascinating remains of this 12th century Augustinian abbey are the Gothic chapter house, stone bridges, and the monks' fishing house overhanging the river. Next you'll travel through the beautiful National Park in the heart of Connemara; a combination of bogland, lakes, and mountains. Along the way you'll visit Kylemore Abbey, which is sheltered by the slopes of the Twelve Bens. This lakeside castle is a romantic, battlemented Gothic Revival fantasy. After your return to Galway, take some time to investigate the city before enjoying a lovely seafood dinner. Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively university city. The center of the city lies on the banks of the River Corrib which flows from Lough Corrib. Overnight Galway.(B,D) Day 6:
Today's first destination is Strokestown Park House, an 18th century mansion that has been faithfully restored. It is unique in that it retains its original furnishings, and professionally guided tours allow visitors to browse freely through the stately surroundings. There is also a Famine Museum, which uses a combination of original documents and images from the Strokestown Park collection to explain the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840's. This afternoon finds you at Boyle to visit Boyle Abbey, an impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery that was founded in the 12th century under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Although a ruin, Boyle Abbey nevertheless retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian foundations in Ireland. Dinner tonight is at a pub in Sligo. Overnight in Sligo.(B,D) Day 7:
This morning, pay a visit the little border village of Belleek where the world famous Belleek Pottery was founded in 1857. A stop will be made at the visitors' center and museum. Today's next stop is the Ulster-American Folk Park, which is one of the best open-air museums of its kind! The park has over 30 historic buildings examining why two million people emigrated to the States in the 18th and 19th century. Then the tour winds its way to the Breaghmore Stone Circles, composed of seven stone circles and several stone rows dating from between 2000 and 1200 BC. Dinner and overnight in Derry.(B,D) Day 8:
The first stop this morning will be Old Bushmills Distillery, which is the oldest distillery in the world! Your tour of the distillery will end with whiskey sampling in the 1608 bar. This afternoon, take in the Causeway Coast and The Giants Causeway where 37,000 basalt columns extend from the cliffs and into the sea. The sheer wonder and magic of the columns never fails to impress! Lunch is in Carnlough before you are off to Belfast for an evening free in the city. Overnight in Belfast.(B,L) Day 9:
Today will be spent in Belfast, Northern Ireland's largest city and one of Scottish Dream Tours' favorite European cities! Take a tour of the city aboard an open-top bus. Get on and off at your own pace and take in the sights of the city. You may want to take in a lunch stop at the famous Crown Liquor Saloon, a flamboyant Victorian drinking palace. You may also want to visit City Hall and St. Anne's Cathedral. Later this afternoon you'll visit Carrickfergus Castle, a Norman castle situated in the town of Carrickfergus on the shore of Belfast Lough. Besieged in turn by the Scots, Irish, English and French, the castle played an important military role until 1928 and remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in
the whole of Ireland. Dinner and overnight in Belfast.(B,D)
Day 10:
This morning, take the ferry across to Stranraer, Scotland. The first stop in Scotland is at Culzean Castle. Standing on a cliff's edge, this 16th century keep is located in an extensive parkland estate and is Robert Adam's finest masterpiece. Next, head north through Glasgow and to the shores of bonny Loch Lomond where you will find dinner waiting. Dinner and overnight in Loch Lomond.(B,D) Day 11:
Following breakfast this morning, the tour heads into The Trossachs and Stirlingshire. This is Rob Roy country and you will visit Rob Roy's Visitor Centre in Callander. Callander is full of wonderful shops, woollen mills and delightful tearooms. Lunch is in Callander before you head for a visit to Stirling and Stirling Castle. Stirling is one of the grandest of all Scottish Castles and Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here. Today's next stop is Edradour Distillery where you will visit a traditional working distillery, which is also the smallest in Scotland. The journey then takes you to the Highland village of Pitlochry. Dinner is on your own tonight in Pitlochry. Overnight in Pitlochry.(B,L) Day 12:
This morning's first stop is The Queen's View named after Robert The Bruce's wife, Isabel, but made popular by Queen Victoria. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in Scotland and will become a favorite of yours. Enjoy an afternoon tea at Moon and Sixpence in Aberfeldy. Next, you'll visit Castle Menzies, a spectacular 16th century castle. The seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 400 years and importantly situated, this castle was involved in the turbulent history of the Highlands and here Bonnie Prince Charlie rested on his way to Culloden in 1746. Then return to Pitlochry where the evening's highlight will be dinner and a performance at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre! Overnight in Pitlochry.(B,L,D) Day 13:
This morning you'll visit Balhousie Castle, which houses the Museum of the Black Watch - the first ever Highland regiment. Next, the journey travels south toward Edinburgh, but not before stopping in Dunfermline and visiting Dunfermline Palace and Abbey. Dunfermline Abbey was founded in about 1070 by Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm Canmore. Margaret was made a saint, and she and Malcolm were buried here. Robert the Bruce's body (apart from his heart, which is at Melrose) is buried here as well. Have lunch in Dunfermline before the journey to Edinburgh. The evening is free for exploring Princes Street, the Royal Mile, and the many eateries to be found in the city. Overnight in Edinburgh.(B,L) Day 14:
This morning you will take in all the sights of Edinburgh and, since the best way to see the city is by bus, you will board an open-top tour bus and enjoy all the highlights of the city. You may want to depart the bus at both Palace of the Holyrood House and Edinburgh Castle. You will have the afternoon free for shopping on Princes Street and The Royal Mile. Tonight you will enjoy an evening of food, fun, Highland dance, song and, of course, bagpipes! Overnight in Edinburgh.(B,D) Day 15:
This morning travel to Edinburgh International for your journey home. |
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